IntroductionPlants in chaparral has adapted to their environment in a way so that most of them are less than a meter tall and relatively shrubby in appearance. Most of the vegetation are annuals. Meaning that they bloom soon after the winter rains and survive summer as a seed.
Many of their characteristics cross over with desert plants. Being able to survive hot summers with very little amounts of water.
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Coyote Brush
The coyote brush is shaped by salt spray and winds and hugs close to the ground. The leaves are fire retardant meaning that they have a chemical source that lowers the ability for it to catch on fire. These leaves are mainly on the top of the branches. They take on a smell with resinous oils on hot summer days. These oils are very repelling so are protected from being eaten. The coyote brush has a large root system that it has adapted to using because of the very hot environment. With long roots it is able to reach water systems for it to drink.
King Protea
The King protea has on the outside many stiff pointy petals that give it the appearance of a cup. It can absorb moisture through its leaves as many other flowers in chaparral have adapted to doing. There is not a lot of annual rainfall but there is a frequent ocean fog that blanket the whole area with moisture. The king protea is about 30.5 centimeters across and the petals are 3-5 cm long. The king protea is actually the national flower of South Africa but can now be found almost anywhere if the climate is right.
Common Sagebrush
Sagebrush is a perennial plant with very stiff and straight stems. It can grow to be 1-2 metres tall. If the rain is scarce then the deep tap roots of the sagebrush finds a source of water to use. However if it precipitates then it will use it much shallower wide roots that spread all around the base absorbing that falls on to the surface in to the soil. Unlike some of the other chaparral plants the common sagebrush cannot come back after a fire.